I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author or publisher. All opinions are my own.
Quick Summary of The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall. What if you could choose your heaven now? Go on a celestial shopping trip of sorts? Thirty-five-year-old Vivienne does just that, as she lies dying in the ICU; a fatal walk into the path of a truck. In her final week of life, Vivienne treks through the Heavens of a priest, a best friend, a homeless child, and a lover who never was. Vivienne’s guardian angel, Noah, who may just be her soul mate, escorts her through selections of Heavens and through the confusion Vivienne experiences as she flounders between a doubt of life and the certainty of death. Although her visits to varied afterlives provide peace and beauty, choosing proves not so easy: Vivienne’s love for her young son and her earthly father pull her from her colorful journey—and from her divine love of Noah.
The nature of love, the variety and magic of life, unending hope, and the importance of saying goodbye are central to this uplifting tale.
Readers will feel a host of emotions with this story. Readers will be faced with hope--and heartbreak. Readers will be warmed by the power of love--and torn by it as well. Whether you believe in the religious realm of Heaven--you will find much more to this story than a fantasy view of the Afterlife.
The author creates a unique story surrounding Vivienne's journey. Through a host of characters--both found in Vivienne's reality and in her Heavenly encounters, the author creates quite a story. Readers will be drawn to Vivienne--but, drawn as well to her nurse, her son and to following her to a hopeful, happy ending. The rather unique concept of creating a personal Heaven is very well done throughout this novel. Readers will find themselves transported completely into Vivienne's worlds--and will feel the hope, the peace, the turmoil, the pain, the love, the loss.
Would I recommend The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall by Shannon Kirk? I think this book would appeal especially to fantasy book lovers--but, also to fans of thought provoking fiction. While the book isn't a love story--it's a life story--the power of love in both life and death is present. Readers may require some time to adjust to the scene changes that fill the book as the various stories unfold through to the end--and some scenes may require a little extra attention or a re-read. However, once readers settle into Kirk's transitions--they will have a very tough time putting the book down. It's an emotional story that merges fantasy and reality wonderfully.
Meet the Author:
Shannon Kirk is the awarding-winning author of the international bestselling Method 15/33 (psychological thriller--bestseller in Colombia and Spain, will be lead title in Italy, 2017) and Heavens (Literary Fiction). Method 15/33 has received multiple accolades: 2015 Foreword Review Book of the Year (Suspense); Winner of 2015 National Indie Excellence Award, Best Suspense; 2015 USA Best Book Finalist; School Library Journal's Best Adult Books for Teens (2015); and Finalist in 2013 William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition (when a Novella). Method 15/33 is optioned for a major motion film and has sold to nineteen foreign rights.
When not writing, she is a practicing lawyer, residing on Massachusett's Cape Ann with her husband and son and two cat writing accomplices, Marvin Marquez (in honor of Gabriel Garcia Marquez) and Stewie Poe (Edgar Allen Poe).
Shannon enjoys writing in several genres: literary fiction, psychological thriller, young adult, and poetry. She has been honored three times by the William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition.
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